# US 2018/0022211 A1 · Vapour recovery system and vapour control method

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- Number: US 2018/0022211 A1
- Document ID: US20180022211A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/540,790
- Filed: 2016-01-14
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2015-01-23
- Assignees: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
- Applicants: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
- Inventors: David HILL
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022211A1

## CPC

- B60K 15/03504: {adapted to avoid loss of fuel or fuel vapour, e.g. with vapour recovery systems}
- B60K 15/03519: {Valve arrangements in the vent line}
- B60K 15/061: {with level control}
- B60K 2015/03217: {Fuel level sensors}
- B60K 2015/03236: {characterised by special filters, the mounting thereof}
- B60K 2015/03256: {characterised by special valves, the mounting thereof}
- B60K 2015/0348: {for returning the fuel from the motor}
- B60K 2015/03514: {with vapor recovery means}
- B60K 2015/03566: {comprising means for stopping the venting of fuel vapor, e.g. during refuelling or engine stop}
- B60K 2015/03576: {Venting during filling the reservoir}
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES

## Abstract

A vapour recovery system recovers vapour coming from a vehicle tank. The system includes a valve that is positionable in a closed position, an open position creating a passageway with a first size, and one or more intermediate positions each creating a passageway with a size smaller than the first size. The system also includes an electronic controller to control an actuator to position the valve in a sequence of positions over time. The sequence includes at least one of the intermediate positions during a time period larger than 1 second. The valve is arranged in a line of the vapour recovery system between a vapour outlet of the vehicle tank and the atmosphere. The actuator is a stepper-motor based linear actuator. The controlling includes selecting at least one intermediate position, and the selection includes selecting a number of steps to be set from a predetermined reference position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vapour recovery system for recovering vapour coming from a vehicle tank comprising:
a valve configured for being positionable in a closed position, an open position creating a passageway with a first size, and one or more intermediate positions each creating a passageway with a size which is smaller than said first size;
an actuator configured for operating said valve;
an electronic controller configured for controlling said actuator to position said valve in a sequence of positions over time, wherein said sequence comprises at least one of said one or more intermediate positions during a time period, said time period being larger than 1 second;
wherein the valve is arranged in a line of the vapour recovery system between a vapour outlet of the vehicle tank and the atmosphere;
wherein the actuator is a stepper-motor based linear actuator; and
wherein the controlling comprises selecting at least one intermediate position of said one or more intermediate positions, the selection consisting in selecting a number of steps to be set from a predetermined reference position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vapour recovery system of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to be positioned in a plurality of intermediate positions, and the controller is configured to select at least one intermediate position of said plurality of intermediate positions in function of at least one vehicle status parameter, and to include said selected at least one intermediate position in said sequence during the time period.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vapour recovery system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured for:
upon positive detection of a refueling event, positioning the valve in the open position;
monitoring a level of the liquid in the vehicle tank and when the level reaches a predetermined threshold level, positioning the valve in the closed position;
then reopening the valve by positioning the valve in an intermediate position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vapour recovery system of claim 3, wherein, after the reopening of the valve, the controller is further configured for detecting a fuel door closing event and for positioning the valve in the closed position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vapour recovery system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured for controlling the actuator to position said valve in the sequence of positions during refueling of the vehicle tank.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The vapour recovery system of claim 5, wherein the sequence of positions comprises the open position during a first period of a refueling event, the at least one intermediate position during a second period corresponding with said time period, and at the end of the refueling event the closed position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The vapour recovery system of claim 6, further comprising a level sensor for detecting a level of the liquid in the vehicle tank; wherein the controller is configured for determining the at least one intermediate position and/or a begin time of the second period based on the detected level.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The vapour recovery system of claim 1, wherein the valve is arranged in a line between a vapour outlet of a vehicle tank and a vapour filter unit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The vapour recovery system of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured for controlling the actuator to position the valve in the sequence of positions during purging of the vapour filter unit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The vapour recovery system of claim 8, further comprising a determination means for determining a vapour load of the filter unit; wherein the controller is configured for determining said at least one intermediate position and/or the time period and/or a begin time of the time period in function of the determined vapour load during purging of the vapour filter unit.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The vapour recovery system of claim 1, further comprising:
a vehicle tank having a vapour outlet;
a vapour filter unit having a filter inlet and a filter outlet; and
a housing having a first port communicating with the vapour outlet, a second port communicating with the filter inlet, a third port communicating with the filter outlet and a fourth port; wherein the valve is implemented between the first port and the second port, and the valve comprises a closure body moveably arranged in said housing; wherein said closure body is moveable by the actuator and is configured
for creating, in the open position of the valve, the passageway with the first size between the first port and the second port, whilst closing the third port and the fourth port, in a first position of the closure body;
for creating in said housing a barrier between a first volume and a second volume in a second position of the closure body, said first volume forming a passage between the first port and the second port, and said second volume forming a passage between the third port and the fourth port;
for closing, in the closed position of the valve, the first port and the second port, in a third position of the closure body; and
for creating, in the one or more intermediate positions of the valve, a passageway with a smaller size between the first port and the second port, whilst opening the third port and the fourth port, in a fourth position of the closure body.

### Claim 12

A vapour control method comprising:
controlling a vapour flow from a vehicle tank using a valve, said valve being configured for being positionable in a closed position, an open position creating a passageway with a first size, and one or more intermediate positions each creating a passageway with a size which is smaller than said first size;
wherein said controlling comprises positioning the valve in a sequence of positions over time,
wherein said sequence comprises at least one of said one or more intermediate positions during a time period, said time period being larger than 1 seconds,
wherein said controlling comprises selecting at least one intermediate position of said one or more intermediate positions, the selection consisting in selecting a number of steps to be set from a predetermined reference position by a stepper-motor based linear actuator.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the controlling of the positioning is performed by an electronic controller based on vehicle status parameters.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the controlling comprises positioning the valve in the open position, next positioning the valve in said at least one of said one or more intermediate positions during a period of the refueling event corresponding with said time period, and thereafter positioning the valve in the closed position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising detecting a level of the liquid in the vehicle tank; and determining a start time of the time period based on the detected level.

### Claim at position 16 (depends on 12)

16: The method of claim 12, wherein the valve is arranged in a line between a vapour outlet of the vehicle tank and a vapour filter unit; and wherein the controlling of the positioning is performed during purging of the vapour filter unit.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising measuring a vapour load of the vapour filter unit; and determining said at least one of said one or more intermediate positions and/or a length of said time period and/or a begin time of said time period, in function of the measured vapour load during purging of the vapour filter unit.

### Claim 18 (depends on 8)

The vapour recovery system of claim 8, wherein the vapour filter unit is a canister.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the vapour filter unit is a canister.